How to enable multiple user accounts on a Jelly Bean device right now

We recently informed you that random code has been found in Jelly Bean hinting at the eventual arrival of a multiple user accounts feature to Android. While Google is yet to announce such functionality, though, it looks like users of Jelly Bean devices can take advantage of the code that's already in place and enable the feature right now!

Thanks to the bright folks over at XDA-Devs, we now know a quick and easy way of turning multiple user accounts on, but keep in mind that this functionality is not yet ready for mass deployment, meaning that it will most-probably contain bugs and other such unpleasant stuff.

2. Once you have the app installed, you need to launch it. When inside the app, you need to type and execute these two commands (without the quotes):

"su"
"pm create-user test"3. Note that in the second command, "test" is the name of the new user that you are creating. Well, congrats, you have now created a new user on your Android device!

4. But that wouldn't mean much if you can't access it, right? Fortunately, you can! You simply have to hold down the power button, and right there at the bottom of the list you'll see "Primary" - your main account, and "test", which is the new user account.

5. Choosing the "test" option will send you to a brand new homescreen, which you can customize in an entirely different way from your primary one! Most info like photos, app info, music, contacts and Google Account will not be visible between accounts, but there might be some omissions that are not fixed by the Android team yet.

6. Repeat step 2 to create even more user accounts.

7. At some point or another, however, you may feel that you are self-sufficient and you no longer want multiple user accounts on your device. That's OK, because you can just as easily get rid of the additional accounts, by opening the Terminal Emulator app and executing the following commands (without the quotes):

"su"

"pm remove-user 1"

8. Note that in the second command, "1" is the second account on the device (or in other words, the first additional account that you've created), because your primary one is 0. If you have a third account, you just substitute "1" with "2" in the second command.

Coll stuff, eh? Just remember that the guys over at XDA warn that this functionality is not yet fully tested, so who knows what issues or bugs may hide beneath the surface.

Question. Is that a Galaxy Nexus? If so, how did all those options appear while pressing the power button? Reboot and screenshot options? All I get is power off and airplane mode. Is that part of the additional user feature?

though i've already got the "best of both worlds" of multiple accounts on my wifes N7. She is the primary google account for her apps and such, and my google account is logged into G-Music for access to all of that. And since you can "switch" accounts for both the Play store and G-Music pretty much on the fly, there isnt really a whole lot of need for a separate front screen log in. At least not for us. :)

Beautiful!!!!
Great Job Google. This will go far for the Nexus 7. I figure in the coming months all Nexus 7 will get an update that will official turn this feature on. Excellent Job this will help with the sales of Nexus 7 device

Does Google has patent for this? We don't want iOS to copy us do we? On the other hand iOS might not care with this feature since their owners are "SO RICH" that all their households can afford an iPad each.

Ok thank you. I heard that it gives better battery performance by giving you privileges to get rid of some background applications. Is this true? Because battery boosting is the only reason I'd ever consider rooting.

OptimusOne is right. "not necesarilly" will this give you better battery life. Some claim its better, some worse, but most say theres no difference. The number one reason people root is to allow the hotspot feature to tether for free. Most carriers ask Google to deactivate that feature since they want control to be able to charge for hotspot.

Multiuser is also a good reason to root since you can now hand your phone to someone else to borrow/use while all your info is kept private.

Just installed Terminal Emulator and typed in "su", then "pm create-user NAME_OF_USER", but I haven't been able to go any further as I got stuck after "Error: couldn't create user". I surely must have missed something, but then what ...?

I rooted my Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Nexus Root Toolkit under Windows 7 64bits and flashed CM 10.1 with TWRP if that's of any help to understand why I can't go any further ...

PS: I have both Superuser and SuperSU apps. Could THAT be the problem?

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